Waters' workflow for released N-glycan sample preparation and analysis is built around the capabilities of the GlycoWorks RapiFluor-MS Kit. Our protocol significantly simplifies sample preparation, allowing deglycosylation, labeling, and sample clean-up to be completed within 30 minutes.

Glycan monitoring

The novel RapiFluor-MS reagent also improves both fluorescent and MS detection while dramatically improving MS sensitivity. Now, thanks to the reagent, which imparts a higher charge state to glycan molecules, the compact and user-friendly ACQUITY QDa Detector can be used for mass detection for an orthogonal technique to fluorescence detection in glycan monitoring.

To help with data analysis, GlycoBase 3+ database, a first-of-its-kind library developed in collaboration with NIBRT of dextran calibrated chromatographic retention values, expressed in glucose units, for a diverse array of glycan structures associated with biotherapeutics and other glycoproteins of biological interest is available with the addition of the RapiFluor-MS Glycan GU Scientific Library.

Glycan characterization

In glycan characterization, UPLC-QTof MS takes advantage of additional MS sensitivity gains for the accurate mass confirmation of low-level peaks, and enhanced MS/MS glycan fragmentation for definitive evidence of correct glycan assignment. This can be performed using the Waters Glycan Application Solution with UNIFI, which includes the Glucose Unit (GU) Glycan Library to facilitate GU and GU+ accurate mass glycan assignments.